424 MamMaALia OF INDIA. 
ruminants are these which bear a persistent sheath of horn on a bony 
core; the others bear solid antlers which are periodically shed, and 
grow afresh. 
FAMILY BOVIDA-—HOLLOW-HORNED RUMINANTS. 
In these there is an elongated process of bone on the frontals, termed 
the ‘“‘ horn cores,” which are covered with a horny sheath which is never 
shed, but continues to grow till full adult life, and probably whilst life 
lasts, the growth being from the base. In some of these the females. 
are horned, but the majority are hornless. These have all the typical 
organs of rumination and digestion, and they consist of the goats, 
sheep, antelope, oxen, and buffalos. 
SUB FAMILY CAPRINA—GOATS AND SHEEP. 
These are noted for having, as a general rule, horns in both sexes, 
though of varying quality ; they are usually compressed, triangular, 
rugose, with transverse ridges, and curving backwards or spirally ; 
no canines. Feet pits in some; sub-orbital gland small or absent. 
GENUS OVIS—THE SHEEP. 
Horns in both sexes; in the male very large, angular, deeply 
wrinkled, turned downwards in a bold circle, with the point curved 
outwards ; the nasal bones are arched ; small feet pits ; two mamme. 
No. 488. Ovis PoLit. 
Marco Polo's Sheep. 
NativE Names.—fass or oosh on the Pamir; Auch-kar (male), 
Mesh (female), in Wakhan. 
Hasitat.—Thian Shan mountains, north of Kashgar, and Yarkand,, 
at elevations exceeding gooo feet. 
DescrIPTIoN.—During winter light greyish-brown on the sides of 
the body, with a dark line down the middle of the back, white below. 
In summer the grey changes to dark brown. The horns describe a 
circle of about one and a quarter when viewed from the side, and 
point directly outwards. One of the finest specimens I have seen, 
which was exhibited at a meeting of the Asiatic Society in December 
